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To vye ftrange forms with Fancy, yet t'imagine
An Antony, were Nature's Prize 'gainst Fancy,
Condemning fhadows quite.

Dol. Hear me, good Madam:

Your lofs is as your felf, great; and you bear it,
As anfw'ring to the weight: would, I might never
O'er-take purfu'd fuccefs, but I do feel,

By the rebound of yours, a grief that shoots
My very heart at root.

Cleo. I thank you, Sir.

Know you, what Cafar means to do with me?
Dol. I'm loth to tell you, what I would you knew.
Cleo. Nay, pray you, Sir.

Dol. Though he be honourable

Cleo. He'll lead me then in triumph?

Dol. Madam, he will, I know't.

All. Make way there, - -Cafar.

Enter Cæfar, Gallus, Mecenas, Proculeius, and
Attendants.

Caf. Which is the Queen of Egypt?

Dol. It is the Emperor, Madam.

Caf. Arife, you fhall not kneel:

I pray you, rife, rife, Ægypt.

[Cleo. kneels.

obfcure enough. I'll firft reform the Text, and then fubjoin the Interpretation.

66

66

Yet t'imagine

An Antony, were Nature's Prize 'gainst Fancy,

Condemning Shadows quite.

The Senfe is This. "Nature in general has not Materials fufficient to furnish out real Forms, for ev'ry Model that the boundless Power "of the Imagination can sketch out. [This is the Meaning of the "Words, Nature wants Matter to ye strange Forms with Fancy.] "But yet, tho' in general This be true, that Nature is more poor, narrow, and confin'd, than Fancy; yet it must be own'd, that when "Nature presents an Antony to us, fhe then gets the better of Fancy, "and makes even the Imagination appear poor and narrow; or, in our "Author's Words, condemns fhadows quite." The Word Prize, which I have restored, is the prettieft Word in the World in this place; as, figuring a Contention between Nature and Imagination about the larger Extent of their Powers; and Nature gaining the Prize by producing Antony. And fure, Nothing could be faid more advantagious for Antony, than this; that Imagination came short of his Perfections. Mr. Warburton.

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Cleo. Sir, the Gods

Will have it thus, my mafter and my
I must obey.

1

Caf. Take to you no hard thoughts: The record of what injuries you

lord

did us,

Though written in our flesh, we fhall remember
As things but done by chance.

Cleo. Sole Sir o'th' world,

I cannot project mine own caufe fo well
To make it clear, but do confefs, I have
Been laden with like frailties which before
Have often fham'd our Sex.

Caf. Cleopatra, know,

We will extenuate rather than inforce:
If you apply your felf to our intents,

(Which tow'rds you are moft gentle) you fhall find A benefit in this Change; but if

you feek To lay on me a cruelty, by taking

Antony's courfe, you fhall bereave your felf
Of my good purposes, and put your children
To that deftruction which I'll guard them from,
If thereon you relie. I'll take my leave.

Cleo. And may, through all the world: 'tis yours; and we,

Your fcutcheons, and your figns of Conqueft, fhall Hang in what place you pleafe. Here, my good lord. Caf. You fhall advife me in all for Cleopatra. (64)

(64) You shall advise me of all, Cleopatra.] This I prefume to be a Reading folely of Mr. Pope's. But what an harmonious Verfe has he giv'n us, in Point of Emphafis? And how has he disgraced the Poet and his Emperor, in point of Sentiment? What a fheaking Figure does Cafar make, in saying, "You fhall confefs your whole

fubftance; you fhan't fecrete one penny"; before he knows what the Paper is, that Cleopatra puts into his hand? But I have reitor'd the Reading of the old Books, which carries a Dignity fuitable to the Subject. Cæfar takes pains to comfort her; and tells her, that the herfelf fhall direct him in ev'ry Thing for her own Relief and Satis action. He repeats the fame Confolation to her in other Terms, when he leaves her:

Therefore, be cheer'd;

Make not your Thoughts your Prifons: no, dear Queen ;
For we intend fo to difpofe you as

Yourself shall give us Counfel.

Cleo.

Cleo. This is the brief of mony, plate, and jewels
'tis exactly valued, (65)

I am poffeft of
Not petty things omitted
Sel. Here, Madam.

where's Seleucus?

Cleo. This is my treasurer, let him fpeak, my lord, Upon his peril, that I have referv'd

To my felf nothing. Speak the truth, Seleucus.
Sel. Madam, I had rather feal my lips,
Than to my peril speak that which is not.
Cleo. What have I kept back?

Sel. Enough to purchase what you have made known.
Caf. Nay, blufh not, Cleopatra ; I approve
Your wifdom in the deed.

Cleo. See, Cafar! Oh, behold,

How Pomp is follow'd: mine will now be yours,
And, fhould we shift eftates, yours would be mine.
Th' ingratitude of this Seleucus do's

Ev'n make me wild. Oh flave, of no more Traft Than love that's hir'd- What, goeft thou back? thou fhalt

Go back, I warrant thee; but I'll catch thine eyes, Though they had wings. Slave, foul-lefs villain, dog, O rarely base!

Caf. Good Queen, let us intreat you.

Cleo. O Cafar, what a wounding fhame is this, That thou, vouchfafing here to vifit me,

(65)

'Tis exactly valued, Not petty Things admitted.] Sagacious Editors! Cleopatra gives in a Lift of her Wealth, fays, 'tis exactly valued, but that petty Things are not admitted in this Lift: and then the appeals to her Treasurer, to vouch, that she has referv'd Nothing to her felf. Nay, and when he betrays her in this Point, fhe is reduced to the fhift of exclaiming against the Ingratitude of Servants to a Prince in his Decline, and of making Apologies for having fecreted certain Trifles. What Confiftency is there in fuch a Con; duct? And who does not fee, that we ought to read?

'Tis exactly valued;

Not petty Things omitted.

For this Declaration lays open her Falfhood; and makes ner angry, when her Treasurer detects her in a direct Lye.

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Doing the honour of thy lordliness (66)
To one fo weak, that mine own fervant fhould
Parcel the fum of my difgraces by

Addition of his envy! Say, good Cafar,
That I fome lady-trifles have referv'd,
Immoment toys, things of fuch Dignity
As we greet modern friends withal; and say,
Some nobler token I have kept apart
For Livia and Octavia, to induce

Their mediation, muft I be unfolded

By one that I have bred? the Gods! it fmites me
Beneath the Fall I have. Pr'ythee, go hence;
Or I fhall fhew the cinders of my fpirits (67)

(66) Doing the Honour of thy Lordliness

To one fo meek.]

Thefe Editors, like Sir Martin Marr-all, are perpetually plunging into fresh Abfurdities. Surely, Cleopatra must be bantering Cefar, to call herself meek, when he had the Moment before feen her fly at her Treasurer, and withing to tear out his Eyes. I correct,

To One fo weak;

i. e. fo fhrunk in Fortune and Power: vanquish'd, and spoil'd of her Kingdom. Befides, the might allude to her bodily Decay. For Plutarch tells us, that the receiv'd Cafar, as fhe was lying on a poor pallat-bed'; that he threw herself at his Feet, in her Shift; that her Hair was torn off, and her Face mangled; that her Voice was low and trembling, and her Eyes funk into her Head with continual Weeping fo that she was in a pitiful State. And notwithstanding all thefe concurring Symptoms of Weakness and Decay, there is no Inconfiftency in her flying at her Treasurer: for, on any fudden Provocation, the Agonies of Refentment will exert against the lowest Infirmity, and put Nature on the Strain.

(67) Or I fall fhew the Cinders of my Spirits

Thro' th' Afbes of my Chance.]

If the Text be genuine, this must be the Allufion; fhe confiders herself, in her Downfall, as a Fabrick destroy'd by Fire and then would intimate, that the fame Fire has reduc'd her Spirits too to Cinders; i. e. confum'd the Strength and Dignity of her Soul and Mind. Mr. Warburton thinks, the Poet wrote;

Thro' th' Afbes of my Cheeks.

And, indeed, our Poet has an Image in Othello, that seems to coun tenance this Correction.

I should make very Forges of my Cheeks,
That would to Cinders burn up Modefty,
Did I but Speak thy Deeds.

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Through

Through th' afhes of my chance: wert thou a man, Thou would't have mercy on me.

Caf. Forbear, Seleucus.

Cleo. Be't known, that we the Greatest are mifthought

For things that others do; and when we fall,

We answer others merits, in our names

Are therefore to be pitied.

Caf. Cleopatra,

Not what you have referv'd, nor what acknowledg'd, Put We i'th' roll of Conqueft, ftill be't yours; Bestow it at your pleasure, and believe,

Cafar's no merchant to make prize with you

Of things that merchants fold. Therefore, be cheer'd: Make not your thoughts your prifons; no, dear Queen,

For we intend fo to difpofe you, as

Your felf fhall give us counfel: feed, and fleep.
Our care and pity is fo much upon you,

That we remain your friend; and fo, adieu.

Cleo. My mafter, and my lord!

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Caf. Not fo: adieu. [Exeunt Cæfar and his train. Cleo. He words me, Girls, he words me,

That I fhould not be noble to my self.

But hark thee, Charmian.

[Whispers Charmian.

Iras. Finish, good lady, the bright day is done,

And we are for the dark.

Cleo. Hie thee again. — (68)

I've fpoke already, and it is provided;

Go put it to the haste.

Char. Madam, I will.

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I've spoke already, and it is provided;
Go put it to the hafte.]

[Exit Charm.

Freinshemius has obferv'd, upon a Paffage of Quintus Curtius, that your beft Writers very often leave fome things to be understood from the Confequence and Implication of Words, which the Words themselves do not exprefs. Ità fæpiffimè optimi quique Scriptores volunt quædam intelligi ex confequentia Verborum, quæ ipfi non apertè dixerunt. Our Author obferves this Conduct here. Cleopatra must be fuppos'd to mean, fhe has fpoke for the Afp, and it is provided, tho' fhe fays not a Word of it in direct Terms.

Enter

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